Posts from July 2014

Many musicians attribute their taste
in music to their parents. Few pay tribute to them in as literal and
beautiful methods as acclaimed Chicago singer Dee Alexander. Seasoned in blues, gospel and soul music, Alexander's true niche is jazz music and her newest album Songs My Mother Loves
highlights the biggest influences in her career including Ella
Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole and, of course, her own mother
who introduced her to all the greats.

It's August? How did that happen? Although you might be able to convince someone it's September or early October based on this weather. No complaints. You certainly won't be when you're enjoying some of the great outdoor festivals this weekend, like Fiesta del Sol or Schuhplattler Verein Edelweiss. Oh also, that one called Lollapalooza. You may be familiar. Plan your driving accordingly!

There's a lot happening this weekend. Friday night alone there are at least four shows I recommend you try to see. If you can't make it to all of them, plan out your Friday night activities for the next few weeks to see how many you can attend. But you'd better plan well, some of these shows won't be available for much longer ...

The
Printers Row Historic District on the south end of downtown Chicago has
spectacular industrial and commercial architecture from the city's bygone era
of, you guessed it, printing. Today it is more of a neighborhood than a
bookbindery, and the area keeps a connection with its past identity through a
literary festival every year and a rare book shop in downtown Chicago. While
other areas of downtown are flashy with postmodern buildings, this little area
retains its historic character.

Lollapalooza is one of Chicago's biggest parties, but the fun doesn't stop every night after Grant Park shuts down. The annual slew of official after-parties are
almost as anticipated as the festival's lineup itself. One of these
after show's annual benefits extend far beyond the people in attendance
though.

Every year Lollapalooza grows
bigger and bigger. Now one of the most popular music festivals in the
country, this annual three-day blowout in Chicago's Grant Park attracts
people from all over the world, many of them first timers.

Whether it's knowing how to navigate
Grant Park, where to get grub or what to wear, we've been around the
Lolla block a few times and have some advice for you newcomers. You
never know, these tips might even help a few festival veterans as well.

A busy day of shopping on Michigan Avenue calls for a break. Step away from the hustle and bustle and head over to Bistronomic,
a contemporary French bistro that features big flavors and housemade,
modern French cuisine, all served in a friendly, relaxed Gold Coast
setting. And though Bistronomic is rooted in France, it showcases
seasonal and sustainable ingredients, many of them sourced from area
farms, giving you a true taste of the Midwest.

Each week, we feature one Instagram photographer who will get to feature their photos on Choose Chicago's Instagram account all week long, part of our new #TakingOverChooseChicago series. This week, we chose Steve Crandall. Enjoy!

With blueberries at their seasonal apex during National Blueberry Month (aka July), now seems as good a time as any to binge on blue. The luscious fruits can currently be found on menus throughout Chicago in both edible and potable varieties.